Comments on: Art Style http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/ Phil Steinmeyer's rumblings on the game biz, programming, and life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:07:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: PhilSteinmeyer.com » Blog Archive » Round-Up http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-452 PhilSteinmeyer.com » Blog Archive » Round-Up Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:55:57 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-452 [...] In regard to the art style for my next game, blogged about here, I decided to go with the cartoony style (tweaked a bit). Thanks for all the comments/feedback. [...] [...] In regard to the art style for my next game, blogged about here, I decided to go with the cartoony style (tweaked a bit). Thanks for all the comments/feedback. [...]

]]> By: g. http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-352 g. Tue, 21 Mar 2006 18:16:00 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-352 just to chime in with the choire - I thought the natural game screen and the comic UI looked good too, because both have an organic feel to it. I also agree that emphasizing the game background with outlines puts far too much emphasis on it, The detailed comic-like palm-tree is definitely too much. At second glance - maybe thinner outlines on the comic version and just a slight bit more texture will do too. just to chime in with the choire - I thought the natural game screen and the comic UI looked good too, because both have an organic feel to it. I also agree that emphasizing the game background with outlines puts far too much emphasis on it, The detailed comic-like palm-tree is definitely too much. At second glance - maybe thinner outlines on the comic version and just a slight bit more texture will do too.

]]> By: AliBabs http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-344 AliBabs Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:27:03 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-344 I like the cartoony game board and UI. They give the effect of a fun puzzler which I think would make it more appealing to the casual gamer. I like the cartoony game board and UI. They give the effect of a fun puzzler which I think would make it more appealing to the casual gamer.

]]> By: SBrodie http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-328 SBrodie Sat, 18 Mar 2006 20:58:33 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-328 Cartoony game board and UI both worked best for me. Cartoony game board and UI both worked best for me.

]]> By: StGabe http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-315 StGabe Thu, 16 Mar 2006 19:43:19 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-315 I would also say that the background tiles are too dark as in the corner. I would lighten up that gradient quite a bit to make the corner tiles as easy to read as the other tiles. I would also say that the background tiles are too dark as in the corner. I would lighten up that gradient quite a bit to make the corner tiles as easy to read as the other tiles.

]]> By: StGabe http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-314 StGabe Thu, 16 Mar 2006 19:36:08 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-314 Personally I prefer the cartoon style both in terms of style and in terms of readiability. I personally feel that stylistic/cartoony graphics are the way to go for most smaller budget games. There is a certain threshold, sort of like the uncanny valley, that I think you need to surpass before realistic graphics start to look better than stylized graphics, and that threshold generally takes more of a budget than most casual games are going to have. Personally I prefer the cartoon style both in terms of style and in terms of readiability. I personally feel that stylistic/cartoony graphics are the way to go for most smaller budget games. There is a certain threshold, sort of like the uncanny valley, that I think you need to surpass before realistic graphics start to look better than stylized graphics, and that threshold generally takes more of a budget than most casual games are going to have.

]]> By: Dan http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-309 Dan Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:25:09 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-309 I'd also agree that cartoony UI with the photo-realistic background is the way to go. Keep up the good work. I’d also agree that cartoony UI with the photo-realistic background is the way to go. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Scott http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-308 Scott Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:48:45 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-308 I'd have to agree with most of the other posts here. The realistic background give the game a nice polished look while calling less attention to itself than the cartoony look, while the cartoony look icons are probably much better "read" by the player. I’d have to agree with most of the other posts here. The realistic background give the game a nice polished look while calling less attention to itself than the cartoony look, while the cartoony look icons are probably much better “read” by the player.

]]> By: Marco http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-307 Marco Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:13:55 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-307 I would choose the photorealistic background as it emphasizes the playfield better. The cartoony background is imo "too distracting" from the playfield especially with the outlined green leaves. For the items like the melon, banana etc. I would choose the cartoony look as it brings them out very cleary. Regarding the photorealistic UI, I would ask the artist to make the bamboo and the ropes slightly more detailed and with an outline, more towards the cartoony look. Also there's a small "typo" in the UI dialog box. In this beach setting I would definitely go with some small animations like a crab crawling on the sand, a boat sailing by, a shark in the water or an airplane in the sky flying over ;-) Overall the design looks good. I would choose the photorealistic background as it emphasizes the playfield better. The cartoony background is imo “too distracting” from the playfield especially with the outlined green leaves.
For the items like the melon, banana etc. I would choose the cartoony look as it brings them out very cleary.

Regarding the photorealistic UI, I would ask the artist to make the bamboo and the ropes slightly more detailed and with an outline, more towards the cartoony look.
Also there’s a small “typo” in the UI dialog box.

In this beach setting I would definitely go with some small animations like a crab crawling on the sand, a boat sailing by, a shark in the water or an airplane in the sky flying over ;-)

Overall the design looks good.

]]> By: Flint http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-303 Flint Thu, 16 Mar 2006 07:27:48 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/75/art-style/#comment-303 I also prefer the photorealistic background with the cartoony dialog. I think it may be that while the photorealistic background looks good and polished, the dialog in that set doesn't quite fit the whole theme, it's too sharp and angular. If you could get a similar 'natural' look to what you have on the cartoon dialog, but with a photorealistic shine, that could probably seal the deal for me ;) I also prefer the photorealistic background with the cartoony dialog.
I think it may be that while the photorealistic background looks good and polished, the dialog in that set doesn’t quite fit the whole theme, it’s too sharp and angular. If you could get a similar ‘natural’ look to what you have on the cartoon dialog, but with a photorealistic shine, that could probably seal the deal for me ;)

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